In a dramatic turn of events on September 9, 2025, Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli stepped down amid a wave of violent protests led by a mobilized Gen Z movement. The resignation follows a deadly crackdown that claimed the lives of 19 protestors and injured hundreds, triggering widespread outrage over government overreach, censorship, and endemic corruption.
Gen Z Sparks Unrest Over Social Media Ban and Corruption
The unrest began when the Nepalese government imposed a sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, including giants like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X—citing noncompliance with registration requirements for oversight . The move sparked nationwide backlash, with youth activists—primarily Gen Z—leading marches, calling for "Stop corruption, not social media", and rallying under slogans such as “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” ("KP Thief, leave the country") .
Violence Escalates: Clash, Casualties, Curfews
On September 8, protests turned violent as demonstrators attempted to breach the federal Parliament. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, sparking clashes that left at least 19 dead and over 300 injured . The fatalities mark one of the deadliest days of protest in Nepal since the early 2000s .
In jubilant yet dangerous retaliation, protestors turned their wrath inward, torch setting residences of top political figures, including PM Oli’s home in Balkot, Bhaktapur, alongside the homes of former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ("Prachanda"), and President Ram Chandra Poudel . The CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress party headquarters in the Kathmandu Valley also faced vandalism and fires .
Government Concedes: Leaders Resign, Ban Repealed
Facing unprecedented pressure, the Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak submitted his resignation on September 8, taking moral responsibility for the bloodshed . In a late-night response to the unrest, the government swiftly lifted the social media ban following an emergency cabinet session .
Nevertheless, public anger remained unspent, and on September 9, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli formally resigned, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and signaling a critical shift in Nepal’s political landscape . Additional cabinet resignations followed as Agriculture, Health, Youth & Sports, and Water Ministers left their posts in solidarity or protest .
Aftermath and Wider Significance
Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in Kathmandu and other districts to restore order . A 15-day inquiry has been launched to investigate the causes of the clashes, with promises of compensation and free medical care for the victims and their families .
What began as a protest against digital censorship has evolved into a profound outcry for political accountability. The fact that the Straw Hat Pirates flag from One Piece became an emblem of protest underscores the fusion of pop culture and political activism in Nepal’s Gen Z-led movement .
With tensions still high and a fragile political vacuum emerging, the post-Oli era in Nepal is at a crossroads. Will reform take root, or will disillusionment continue to fester among the youth? Only time will tell—but today, the power of youthful unrest has irrevocably shifted Nepal’s political trajectory.
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